US LAWMAKER URGES ACTION ON RUSSIAN LAWYER'S DEATH

Washington Post

April 26, 2010 -

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. senator is urging the State Department to deny entry to the United States for all Russian officials responsible for the prison death of a lawyer.

Sergey Magnitsky died in November after spending nearly a year in jail. He was awaiting trial on tax-evasion charges linked to his work with a British investor barred from Russia because of allegations he was a security risk.

Maryland Democratic Sen. Benjamin Cardin released a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday asking her to deny entry of several senior officials from the Russian Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service and the Federal Tax Service.

Magnitsky's colleagues and attorney believe them to be involved in the death of Magnitsky.